Marlene Firnhaber Rauch

Marlene Rauch, age 90, passed away on Friday, March 13, 2026. She was born on November 29, 1935, in Beecher, Illinois, the daughter of the late Martin and Edna Firnhaber.

A graduate of Beecher High School, Class of 1953, Marlene married Lloyd Rauch on February 13, 1955. Her greatest passion was caring for and raising their four sons. She took joy in sewing clothes for her boys, cooking for the family, and supporting them at all their sporting events. While raising her family, she worked as a substitute teacher, at a retail sewing shop, and as a server at the local café. She also devoted many hours to volunteering at her local Lutheran church.

Marlene cherished summers in Michigan, where she enjoyed water skiing, boating, tennis, golf, and pickleball. She loved playing games, particularly Bingo, Yahtzee, and Wii bowling, but her true specialty was card games. Few could match her skill, and her unmistakable smirk often signaled that the game was already won.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Dennis Firnhaber. She is survived by her sons Duane and his wife Julee (Genovese), Scott and his wife Tammy (Ivester), Michael and his wife Julie (Marcotte), and Lyle and his wife Danielle (Remich); five grandchildren, Joshua and his wife Jennifer (Lillie), Jeffrey and his wife Milissa (Dragu), Jeremy, Andrea, and Jessica; and four great-grandchildren, Bradley, Maisyn, Ryler, and Charlotte Rauch. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, and beloved friends. Marlene will be deeply missed.